Hot liquid dispenser



March 19, 1963 1 N. MARTIN 3,031,764

HOT LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Oct. 3, 1960 VALVE 3 INVEN TOR. ERNEST N. MARTIN BY Mmzzy V M4 ZTTO'RNEYS United States Patent 3,tl81,764 Hill LlQlUlD DESPENSER Ernest N. Martin, 1141 High St, Escondido, Calii. Filed Get. 37, 1961 Sen. No. 69,178 2 Qlaims. (ill. 126-4562) The present invention relates to hot water liquid dispensers and more particularly to the type employing a storage tank under atmospheric pressure and having a heater for the liquid therein.

The dispenser of the present invention includes two reservoirs or tanks which are referred to herein as tank systems. One or" the tanks provides the main liquid storage reservoir and the other forms an auxiliary reservoir which latter is arranged, at times, to supply liquid to the main reservoir or tank when liquid is withdrawn from the main tank, and which is replenished during the time when liquid is not being withdrawn from the main reservoir or tank,

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a main tank having an outlet in the upper portion thereof and an inlet opening in the lower portion thereof. A heater is employed for heating the liquid in the tank. An auxiliary tank is in constant intercomzmunication with the main tank through the inlet opening. A pipe is connected with a source of liquid under pressure, and this pipe is provided with a nozzle at the end thereof. The nozzle is disposed in aspiratory relationship with the inlet opening, and when liquid flows through the nozzle, liquid will be withdrawn from the auxiliary tank and will flow into the main tank. An inlet valve is provided for controlling the flow of liquid through the tank. Due to the fact that the tanks are in constant intercommunication, during the idle period, i.e., when liquid is not flowing through the tank, the auxiliary tank is replenished with liquid from the main tank.

The advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the in vention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

The FIGURE in the drawing is a schematic view of one form of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the hot liquid dispenser 21 comprises a tank system 2.3 which includes a main storage tank or reservoir 25 and an auxiliary reservoir or tank 27. These tanks are separated from one another by a common wall 29.

The high liquid level for the main tank 25 is determined by an outlet pipe 31 through which the hot liquid is dispensed. Liquid is admitted to the tank system 23 through a pipe 33 which is connected to a source of supply of cold liquid such as a water main by a pipe 35, and the flow of the pipe 35 to the pipe 33 is connected by a valve 37, which may be of the manually operated type or controlled by a coin operated timing device (not shown).

The common wall 29, herein shown for illustrative purposes as a vertical wall, is provided with an opening 39 for establishing constant intercomrnunication between the tanks 25 and 27. The end of the pipe 33, remote from the valve 37, is in the form of a nozzle 41 and this nozzle is in aspiratory relationship with the opening 39, whereby, when liquid is being forced through the nozzle 41 and through the opening 39, liquid will be withdrawn from the auxiliary tank 27 and caused to flow into the main tank 25. These two tanks are in open communication with each other at the top and the top portion of the tanks are in open communication with the atmosphere through the outlet pipe 31.

Ce Efidlfifid li ntented Mar, l 1%63 From the foregoing it will be seen that, when the valve 37 is opened for the purpose of withdrawing liquid through the outlet 31, the jet action effect of the nozzle 41 on the opening 39, will cause a lowering of the liquid level within the auxiliary chamber 27, and this withdrawing continues as long as the valve 37 is open, whereby, at the end of a withdrawing period, the liquid level in auxiliary chamber 27 will have lowered from that indicated at 43. Upon cessation of flow of liquid through the tank system, i.e., when the inlet valve 37 is closed, the liquid level within the tank 25 will be at its highest as indicated by a line 45. Immediately upon cessation of the flow through the tank system, the liquid will flow in the reverse direction through. the opening 39, i.e., from the main tank 25 to the auxiliary tank 27. The liquid in the main tank is constantly being heated by a heater 47.

During the idle period, i.e., when the valve 37 is closed and no liquid is flowing through the system, the previously admitted cold liquid will be heated by the heater 47. This will cause expansion of the liquid. However the expansion is not suflicient to raise the level of the liquid in the tank 25 to the line 45 since the capacity of the auxiliary tank 27 is such that its capacity is greater in volume than the increase in volume of liquid in the tank 25, due to expansion thereof.

In the preferred embodiment the horizontal cross sectional area of the tank 25 is decreased as at 49, whereby the level in the tank 25 is quickly heightened upon the opening of the valve 37.

Since the flow of liquid is controlled by an inlet valve to the tank system, as distinguished from a pressurized tank system from which the flow of liquid is controlled by an outlet valve, the inherent defects of a valve subjected to hot liquid such as water containing minerals is completely eliminated.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A hot liquid dispenser, comprising in combination, a main tank having an outlet in the upper portion thereof and an inlet in the lower portion thereof; a heater for said tank; an auxiliary tank adjacent the main tank and interconnected therewith through said inlet opening; means for moving liquid from the auxiliary tank to the main tank consisting of a pipe connected with a source of liquid under pressure, and a nozzle at the end of the pipe, said nozzle being in aspiratory relationship with said inlet opening; and an inlet valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said pipe.

2. A hot liquid dispenser, comprising in combination, a main tank having an outlet in the upper portion thereof; a heater for the tank; an auxiliary tank alongside the main tank, said tanks including a common wall, said wall having an inlet opening below said outlet; means for moving liquid from said auxiliary tank to the main tank consisting of a pipe connected with a source of liquid under pressure and a nozzle at the end or" said pipe, said nozzle being in aspiratory relationship with said inlet opening; and an inlet valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A HOT LIQUID DISPENSER, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A MAIN TANK HAVING AN OUTLET IN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF AND AN INLET IN THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF; A HEATER FOR SAID TANK; AN AUXILIARY TANK ADJACENT THE MAIN TANK AND INTERCONNECTED THEREWITH THROUGH SAID INLET OPENING; MEANS FOR MOVING LIQUID FROM THE AUXILIARY TANK TO THE MAIN TANK CONSISTING OF A PIPE CONNECTED WITH A SOURCE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, AND A NOZZLE AT THE END OF THE PIPE, SAID NOZZLE BEING IN ASPIRATORY RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID INLET OPENING; AND AN INLET VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LIQUID THROUGH SAID PIPE. 